ENGA, Papua New Guinea�s uppermost province which is tucked away in the furthest reaches of the Highlands region, was once branded
as one of the country�s wildest places.
Such daunting tags were imposed by hasty critics including the media when the province was beginning to face the challenge of
adapting to new fashion, modern politics and business after it gained provincial independence from the Western Highlands Province
in 1976.
Besides the widespread tribal fighting that may have attracted labels, the other intimidating problems which popped up swiftly to
become the major barriers to driving the new province forward included political instability, unequal distribution of resources,
lack of foresight and constructive planning, appointment of wantoks to strategic positions and misappropriation of public funds.
The jailing of former premier Danley Tindiwi with hard labour on charges of misappropriating public money in the mid-1980s shocked
the people as he was the first premier of the province. For someone in his position to be convicted for such misdeeds, the burning
down of the double-storey provincial headquarters building in 1993 and the wilful damage to businesses worth millions of kina around
the same time was a testing period for the new system in Enga. The province was in need of political leadership and direction to
steer the province into a new era of prosperity.
In other words, there were instances within that period of time when Enga was in a total state of anarchy with a complete absence of
leadership, both political and administratively.
To add fuel to the fire of anarchy, in this period in Enga�s short political history was the assassination of one of Enga�s
promising sons and an outstanding leader, Malipu Balakau in 1989. He was the regional MP at that time and Minister for
Communications in Sir Rabbie Namaliu�s government when he was shot dead by gunmen near his private house in Mt Hagen, Western
Highlands Province. That was followed by the slaying of another aspiring Engan businessman and Unitech graduate Seth Timinao by
another group of criminals from the same province.
During this dispiriting period, the lucid absence of common markets for business activities and gathering venues for people to come
together as a united province, mainly in the provincial headquarters of Wabag, was missing.
Such problems became prevalent, particularly in the light of efforts by certain great leaders that worked relentlessly to see the
province turn the corner towards prosperity.
Some of the celebrated leaders that have in one way or the other tried every means possible to get the province progressing,
particularly during the early turbulent period, include the late Don Kapi who was the first premier in 1976 under the interim
arrangement before proper provincial government elections were held in 1978.
Other prominent political figures who wanted to see the province getting off the ground include pioneering premier Mr Tindiwi, who
was the first properly elected premier with his sturdy deputy, the late Amean Yungukali, Paul Torato (first regional MP), Ronald
Rimbao (deputy premier), Mr Balakau (who succeeded Mr Torato as regional MP), Ned Laina (former premier who succeeded Mr Tindiwi)
and many others.
They were technically assisted by highly skilled provincial bureaucrats in the likes of the first provincial secretary late Karivi
Pitz. Luke Kembol, Tau Liu, Michael Puio, Kundapen Talyanga and Penjore Pilyo as either provincial secretaries or administrators
within that period.
Despite the leadership qualities they had to help in driving the province forward, both politically and administratively, the
widespread political instability, unequal distribution of resources, lack of foresight and constructive planning, gross misuse of
public resources including money, extensive tribal fighting and unlawful killings, lack of accountability and transparency continued
to become a daily occurrence.
This was the case despite some of the provinces in the country that acquired provincial status in the early stages like East New
Britain, Bougainville and Morobe doing well with the new provincial government system.
However, under prevailing circumstances, Enga had to see some light somewhere at some point in time ... and it happened. In fact,
the province�s new era was born with the elevation of a long time Wabag Local Level Government President Peter Ipatas to the
Governor�s seat in 1993 when the incumbent Governor Jeffrey Balakau was referred to the leadership tribunal and later dismissed from
parliamentary duties for misconduct in office. Mr Ipatas, who was an ordinary councillor for his Irelya ward for more than 15 years
before he became an MP, was among the most experienced persons Enga had ever had during a period when the province was going through
its most wearisome challenges. He was the man needed to address the problems because since he became a councillor after slipping out
of studies at the University of Papua New Guinea in the early 1980s, he had committed time to witnessing the underlying problems the
successive governments and leaders were going through.
Thus, Mr Ipatas who was later accorded with the title �Action Governor� by the people across the province, was something he duly
deserved, particularly for putting a benchmark for towing the province from the disheartening political and administrative doldrums,
to a new era of leadership by spearheading economic development through education of the young people of Enga.
As Governor of the province, he spent time to create feasible plans and strategies which the previous governments lacked to deal
with the problems he had identified. His first project was to unite the province by way of bringing the LLG presidents and other
district representatives together.
This was to collectively set a common goal of taking the province forward, particularly by promoting unity as a tool from the Enga
provincial headquarters of Wabag where he built the iconic Ipatas Centre.
Having established that, Mr Ipatas imposed his next major plan by investing millions of kina in free education, a policy which many
other established provincial governors were astounded by. He established more schools to this effect and funded the Enga Mioks Rugby
League team in the prestigious SP Cup which has given him popularity unparalleled in the province.
After more than 10 years of free education, Mr Ipatas shifted the policy to quality education while urging that parents still had
to take up the burden of paying their children�s fees so he took care of his government�s plan on lifting the standard of schools in
the province.
He hastily piloted his concept with the Four Square High School and the Amapyka Highlands Lutheran International School where he has
invested in electronic libraries. Consequently, this has paid off with the students in these two schools currently doing their
academic research and assignments on the internet, a great achievement for the Ipatas administration. Mr Ipatas says he is moving
promptly to introduce the concept in the other secondary schools in the province.
At the same time, he is planning to ensure that learning conditions such as science laboratories, libraries, classrooms, and
improved teaching resources including properly disciplined and trained teachers are available to give the students the best
education.
�In the beginning when I announced the shift in policy in free education to quality education, the people were so pessimistic about
what I wanted to do but now they have started to realise the positive side of what I wanted to achieve.
�My ultimate target in my policy shift is to ensure that Enga owns one or two of the country�s premier learning institutions in the
future. If that can be achieved, the ability to produce quality human resources to be competitive in the world�s labour market will
be expected to fall in line,� he said.
The phenomenal turning of the chaotic state of affairs in the provincial political leadership and administrative process was not
achieved by Mr Ipatas alone. He has secured the services of some of the highly qualified people in the public service machinery to
assist him to enforce and complete every plan and policy that he has started. Among them was the current Acting Provincial
Administrator, Dr Samson Amean, a medical doctor and a most conversant administrator in different capacities, mainly in the medical
fraternity in Enga, who was the right balance in the administrative arm.
Dr Amean�s high level of discipline background and experience, mainly in management of public resources and flair to serve the
people without taking sides, particularly with political parties, is a bonus for the province.
Since his appointment in 2003 as the Provincial Administrator, Dr Amean has helped enforce provincial and national government
policies and directives with respect for the five MPs of the province, regardless of their affiliation to different political
parties.
�He is a man who always has the province at the back of his mind. In other words, Dr Amean wants to see that the people of Enga are
served to the maximum of his ability.
�That is why he does not take sides with politicians in terms of vigorously promoting party politics. I know that he has a lot of
respect for the five MPs in the province and their affiliations with the different political parties,� said Provincial Executive
Council member Luso Lollen.
The son of Amean Yungukali of the Kala tribe that owns major portion of the land on which Wabag Town is located, is undoubtedly a
bridge between the Peoples Party in which Mr Ipatas is the head and Wabag MP Sam Abal, Lagaip-Porgera MP Philip Kikala and Kandep MP
Don Polye, who are the backbone of the ruling National Alliance Party�s existence in the province. Dr Amean is probably the only
person in this position with wisdom to bring the different leaders and parties in the province together, which he has done with
great rapport on many occasions.
Currently, Dr Amean and his senior public servants are working around the clock to ensure that the NEC meeting in Enga, which is
proposed to be held on Fenurary 25, is a success.
The soft spoken Engan man is doing this despite awaiting his reappointment after his five year term expired last year.
�He is one of the best provincial administrators in the country, a person we cannot afford to let him off from this seat. Dr Amean
is one of the main building blocks that currently holds the province together with his management skills and working relations with
all the parties involved in the administration of Enga including Governor Ipatas, other NPs, NGOs and leaders from different ends of
the province,�� Mr Lollen said.
�The people of Enga really want him to continue in the position without any disturbance. Therefore, I don�t think they will appoint
someone else to this position as we do not want the repetition of the chaotic state of affairs we had 10 years ago.�
Not only the reappointment of Dr Amean to his position and dishing out of funds are expected by hundreds of Engans from the Prime
Minister and his ministers but also the announcement of a strong political bonding between Governor Ipatas� Peoples Party and Prime
Minister Sir Michael Somare�s National Alliance Party to guide the Government for the next three years until 2012.
Philip Kepson is public relations officer with the Enga Provincial Government.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wabag town rocked
By Daniel Kumbon
I WILL never forget Monday, August 4, for the rest my life. The loud bangs of the two gun shots fired a few metres away drove fear down my spine.
Beads of hot sweat formed freely on my face. The murderous gun shot noise reverberated into the surrounding hills as I rushed back into the Ipatas Centre office complex for safety.
This was the first time in my 20 years of living in Wabag town to experience such fear.
Just a few minutes earlier, somebody burst into the office saying �Kevin Yange is murdered at a road block, Kevin Yange is dead�. I could not believe it.
My immediate thought was that Peter Yange, the acting Wabag District Administrator was killed. Last year, his young wife from Wapenamanda was shot dead at midnight at her home during the 2002 elections.
I had gone over to the hospital morgue to cry over her dead body and that sad experience was still embedded fresh in my mind.
No, it was not Peter Yange but Kevin Yange, a recognised local businessmen who had been gunned down about an hour earlier at a rock block at Aipanda, on the border of Laiagam and Wabag. It is the scene of an on-going tribal feud between the Italae and Magen tribes that has claimed 27 lives.
The very office in which I work is on land belonging to the late Mr Yange�s Kala tribesmen. And there are several public servants from Laiagam who work in the office.
I feared for a blood bath and warned two of the workers of the impending situation. That instant, I heard the shots being fired. I saw a rush of people fleeing in every direction. Those of us in the office were in a state of confusion.
About 10 minutes later, I walked out into the street. By then the Ipatas Centre office complex was empty, the two banks, post office and all the shops were closed. And the streets were nearly empty. There was an eerie quietness all over town.
I learned from witnesses that the two fatal shots I�d heard had been fired into the body of Dorothy Kutas Emboo, 22, from Kiumanda village in Wapenamanda. She had been shot dead at the main bus stop as she was pleading for her life, crying �don�t kill me, don�t kill me, I am a Itiokon girl�.
But still she was killed in revenge for Kevin Yange�s killing.
As innocent as Miss Emboo is, Kevin Yange � aged about 40 � is just as innocent and his killing just as shocking.
Two women on their way to Porgera, who had been passengers in Mr Yange�s Toyota Coaster PMV bus said they were stopped at a road block by armed thugs. They ordered the �off siders� to hand over the day�s takings. Then the thugs ordered the passengers to come out of the bus one by one and searched them.
�After they had collected all our money, they ordered us back into the bus. We thought they had released us to go on our way but one of them went straight to the driver and shot him at point black range,� the two women, still visibly shocked, said.
Placing the lifeless body of Mr Yange on one seat, one of the passengers took control of the bus and drove it back to Wabag. Upon arrival at the provincial hospital, Mr Yange was pronounced dead.
The relatives of Mr Yange went berserk. They searched everywhere in Wabag town for possible payback targets.
There was much speculation that if the Kala tribesmen had withheld the announcement of the death of Mr Yange and had come into town to seek revenge, many people from Laiagam could have been killed.
At the funeral, the Kala tribesmen publicly claimed responsibility for the death of Miss Emboo but doubted if any of their men had killed her. They said the girl was killed at the Wabag town main PMV bus stop, which is close to the Wabag police station. But they had gone beyond that point seeking revenge in other parts of Wabag town like the public market and NBC areas.
They said they will still pay compensation while accepting that the young girl was killed in the chaos caused by Mr Yange�s killing, maintaining that they and the Itiokone people will together establish who may have actually pulled the trigger.
Natural forces of traditional means of solving this complex issue will be played out for both deaths. Revenge killings will be planned and possibly executed, claims and counter claims will be made. But the climax of the whole scenario will be compensation payments that will end everything.
A direct consequence of these two deaths is the delay of the annual Enga Cultural Show planned for this weekend, the closure of essential services in town for the last two days and the constant fear public servants and others from Laiagam could be experiencing. These will be short-lived.
But the deaths of Mr Yange and Miss Emboo will have far reaching implications on the future of Enga.
Mr Yange was one of the few Engan businessmen who had elected to remain in his province to develop it through business activities. He owned a service station, workshop, a food bar and a PMV bus service. Most other Engan businessmen have fled to Mt Hagen, Lae and Port Moresby to engage in economic activities � where it�s safe and secure.
And Miss Emboo, had graduated from the Madang School of Nursing last year. She had elected to come to Enga to serve her people at Porgera Hospital. In her first year of work, she was on field break and was returning to work when her life was cut short at Wabag.
Monday�s senseless murders add to a frightening list of Engan businessmen, public servants and professionals � both men and women � who have either been murdered, killed in road accidents or died of natural causes over the year. This is a big drain on Enga�s scarce manpower resources and most probably Enga has lost many more educated elites through murders than any other province in Papua New Guinea.
At about 7pm, at Kaipale market on January 16, 1996, the head of a young typist � Liya Aimbi � was cut off by one swing of a bush-knife by a Aiyakane tribesmen of Sirunki in a case of mistaken identity. The killer thought Mrs Aimbi was his wife who has previously run away from him. She was wearing similar clothes to that of the wife of the man who killed her. Mrs Aimbi was from Kasap in the Mulitaka area of Laiagam and she left two young children.
UPNG education graduate Aimi Liu, a mother of three children, was knifed at Porgera on allegations that she was running around with the husband of the woman who murdered her.
Young businessman Seth Timano was murdered by rascals on the Enga/WHP border for no apparent reason. Also killed at a roadblock was Leo Kende, his son and his Pacific Island wife. The family was massacred, allegedly in revenge for the murder of two University of Technology students in a drunken brawl in Lae.
Several policeman have also been targets of murderer. Inspector Peter Pyaso, was murdered in the remote Lapalama area of Kompiam, allegedly by Lakin tribesmen when he went to stop a tribal fight.
UPNG economic graduate Lundutta Betoma, of Yaibos in Wapenamanda, was killed on the verandah of his home in Wabag town over allegations that he was running around with another woman.
While Ms Liu and Betoma died at the hands of two love-sick women, Philip Kipakali, another UPNG economics graduate from Teremanda in Wabag, died at the hands of relatives after an argument in his own home in Port Moresby.
Also killed in Port Moresby was Peter Tum, also a UPNG Commerce graduate from Kepelam in Laiagam. Rascals at Kaugere knifed him when he went to buy buai at a roadside.
At Nine-Mile, another suburb of Port Moresby, yet another budding young Engan businessman was killed. He was Rocky Neokuli, about 30, from Birip village in Kompiam. He was an only child whose father had earlier been killed in a tribal fight.
To top off all these murders of young educated Engan elite and businessman was the then national Communications Minister Malipu Balakau, a UPNG law graduate. He was gunned down in front of his Mt Hagen home by criminals.
As if these murders are not enough, the death from car accidents and due to natural circumstances is also frightening.
Among the deaths are eight lawyers. They are Susan Balon, her husband Roy Kisau, Jerry Maeokali, Simili Alonk, Reme Rea, Joseph Pakau and diplomat Denie Kepore.
Most of the lawyers died of heart attacks. Roman Catholic priests Fr Lawrence Kambao and Fr Paul Langor died also of heart attacks. People can avoid heart attacks by looking after their bodies said Dr Kulunga, a private surgeon in Mt Hagen.
�We are thinking about other people and not looking after ourselves,� Dr Kulunga said. �We are eating anything. People should avoid eating greasy foods but must eat a lot of fresh market produce.�
Yes, people have a choice to look after their bodies to avoid illnesses. But how can they avoid being the victims of cold-blooded killings? How could Kevin Yange and Dorothy Kutas Emboo have avoided being killed?
All right-thinking Engans, in fact the people of PNG have yet to see the effective capture and prosecution of the murderers of Kevin Yange, Dorothy Kutas Emboo or all the murdered list above and all the other victims of such cold-blooded killings all over the country.
The cry on the streets of Wabag and every corner in Enga now is for the government to do something urgently.
I WILL never forget Monday, August 4, for the rest my life. The loud bangs of the two gun shots fired a few metres away drove fear down my spine.
Beads of hot sweat formed freely on my face. The murderous gun shot noise reverberated into the surrounding hills as I rushed back into the Ipatas Centre office complex for safety.
This was the first time in my 20 years of living in Wabag town to experience such fear.
Just a few minutes earlier, somebody burst into the office saying �Kevin Yange is murdered at a road block, Kevin Yange is dead�. I could not believe it.
My immediate thought was that Peter Yange, the acting Wabag District Administrator was killed. Last year, his young wife from Wapenamanda was shot dead at midnight at her home during the 2002 elections.
I had gone over to the hospital morgue to cry over her dead body and that sad experience was still embedded fresh in my mind.
No, it was not Peter Yange but Kevin Yange, a recognised local businessmen who had been gunned down about an hour earlier at a rock block at Aipanda, on the border of Laiagam and Wabag. It is the scene of an on-going tribal feud between the Italae and Magen tribes that has claimed 27 lives.
The very office in which I work is on land belonging to the late Mr Yange�s Kala tribesmen. And there are several public servants from Laiagam who work in the office.
I feared for a blood bath and warned two of the workers of the impending situation. That instant, I heard the shots being fired. I saw a rush of people fleeing in every direction. Those of us in the office were in a state of confusion.
About 10 minutes later, I walked out into the street. By then the Ipatas Centre office complex was empty, the two banks, post office and all the shops were closed. And the streets were nearly empty. There was an eerie quietness all over town.
I learned from witnesses that the two fatal shots I�d heard had been fired into the body of Dorothy Kutas Emboo, 22, from Kiumanda village in Wapenamanda. She had been shot dead at the main bus stop as she was pleading for her life, crying �don�t kill me, don�t kill me, I am a Itiokon girl�.
But still she was killed in revenge for Kevin Yange�s killing.
As innocent as Miss Emboo is, Kevin Yange � aged about 40 � is just as innocent and his killing just as shocking.
Two women on their way to Porgera, who had been passengers in Mr Yange�s Toyota Coaster PMV bus said they were stopped at a road block by armed thugs. They ordered the �off siders� to hand over the day�s takings. Then the thugs ordered the passengers to come out of the bus one by one and searched them.
�After they had collected all our money, they ordered us back into the bus. We thought they had released us to go on our way but one of them went straight to the driver and shot him at point black range,� the two women, still visibly shocked, said.
Placing the lifeless body of Mr Yange on one seat, one of the passengers took control of the bus and drove it back to Wabag. Upon arrival at the provincial hospital, Mr Yange was pronounced dead.
The relatives of Mr Yange went berserk. They searched everywhere in Wabag town for possible payback targets.
There was much speculation that if the Kala tribesmen had withheld the announcement of the death of Mr Yange and had come into town to seek revenge, many people from Laiagam could have been killed.
At the funeral, the Kala tribesmen publicly claimed responsibility for the death of Miss Emboo but doubted if any of their men had killed her. They said the girl was killed at the Wabag town main PMV bus stop, which is close to the Wabag police station. But they had gone beyond that point seeking revenge in other parts of Wabag town like the public market and NBC areas.
They said they will still pay compensation while accepting that the young girl was killed in the chaos caused by Mr Yange�s killing, maintaining that they and the Itiokone people will together establish who may have actually pulled the trigger.
Natural forces of traditional means of solving this complex issue will be played out for both deaths. Revenge killings will be planned and possibly executed, claims and counter claims will be made. But the climax of the whole scenario will be compensation payments that will end everything.
A direct consequence of these two deaths is the delay of the annual Enga Cultural Show planned for this weekend, the closure of essential services in town for the last two days and the constant fear public servants and others from Laiagam could be experiencing. These will be short-lived.
But the deaths of Mr Yange and Miss Emboo will have far reaching implications on the future of Enga.
Mr Yange was one of the few Engan businessmen who had elected to remain in his province to develop it through business activities. He owned a service station, workshop, a food bar and a PMV bus service. Most other Engan businessmen have fled to Mt Hagen, Lae and Port Moresby to engage in economic activities � where it�s safe and secure.
And Miss Emboo, had graduated from the Madang School of Nursing last year. She had elected to come to Enga to serve her people at Porgera Hospital. In her first year of work, she was on field break and was returning to work when her life was cut short at Wabag.
Monday�s senseless murders add to a frightening list of Engan businessmen, public servants and professionals � both men and women � who have either been murdered, killed in road accidents or died of natural causes over the year. This is a big drain on Enga�s scarce manpower resources and most probably Enga has lost many more educated elites through murders than any other province in Papua New Guinea.
At about 7pm, at Kaipale market on January 16, 1996, the head of a young typist � Liya Aimbi � was cut off by one swing of a bush-knife by a Aiyakane tribesmen of Sirunki in a case of mistaken identity. The killer thought Mrs Aimbi was his wife who has previously run away from him. She was wearing similar clothes to that of the wife of the man who killed her. Mrs Aimbi was from Kasap in the Mulitaka area of Laiagam and she left two young children.
UPNG education graduate Aimi Liu, a mother of three children, was knifed at Porgera on allegations that she was running around with the husband of the woman who murdered her.
Young businessman Seth Timano was murdered by rascals on the Enga/WHP border for no apparent reason. Also killed at a roadblock was Leo Kende, his son and his Pacific Island wife. The family was massacred, allegedly in revenge for the murder of two University of Technology students in a drunken brawl in Lae.
Several policeman have also been targets of murderer. Inspector Peter Pyaso, was murdered in the remote Lapalama area of Kompiam, allegedly by Lakin tribesmen when he went to stop a tribal fight.
UPNG economic graduate Lundutta Betoma, of Yaibos in Wapenamanda, was killed on the verandah of his home in Wabag town over allegations that he was running around with another woman.
While Ms Liu and Betoma died at the hands of two love-sick women, Philip Kipakali, another UPNG economics graduate from Teremanda in Wabag, died at the hands of relatives after an argument in his own home in Port Moresby.
Also killed in Port Moresby was Peter Tum, also a UPNG Commerce graduate from Kepelam in Laiagam. Rascals at Kaugere knifed him when he went to buy buai at a roadside.
At Nine-Mile, another suburb of Port Moresby, yet another budding young Engan businessman was killed. He was Rocky Neokuli, about 30, from Birip village in Kompiam. He was an only child whose father had earlier been killed in a tribal fight.
To top off all these murders of young educated Engan elite and businessman was the then national Communications Minister Malipu Balakau, a UPNG law graduate. He was gunned down in front of his Mt Hagen home by criminals.
As if these murders are not enough, the death from car accidents and due to natural circumstances is also frightening.
Among the deaths are eight lawyers. They are Susan Balon, her husband Roy Kisau, Jerry Maeokali, Simili Alonk, Reme Rea, Joseph Pakau and diplomat Denie Kepore.
Most of the lawyers died of heart attacks. Roman Catholic priests Fr Lawrence Kambao and Fr Paul Langor died also of heart attacks. People can avoid heart attacks by looking after their bodies said Dr Kulunga, a private surgeon in Mt Hagen.
�We are thinking about other people and not looking after ourselves,� Dr Kulunga said. �We are eating anything. People should avoid eating greasy foods but must eat a lot of fresh market produce.�
Yes, people have a choice to look after their bodies to avoid illnesses. But how can they avoid being the victims of cold-blooded killings? How could Kevin Yange and Dorothy Kutas Emboo have avoided being killed?
All right-thinking Engans, in fact the people of PNG have yet to see the effective capture and prosecution of the murderers of Kevin Yange, Dorothy Kutas Emboo or all the murdered list above and all the other victims of such cold-blooded killings all over the country.
The cry on the streets of Wabag and every corner in Enga now is for the government to do something urgently.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Polye must bide his time for top post
I REFER to the letters in The National (Dec 22) – “Polye loyal to the end” by “JJ” and “Congrats, Abal” by Philip Nere of Wabag.
Many people have written about the promotion of Sam Abal at the expense of Don Polye.
To me, Polye is a born leader and has the charisma but he lacks calculated political strategies.
I was impressed by his performance when he entered parliament in 2002.
He has since worn many caps including the deputy leader of National Alliance representing the highlands, held the works, transport and civil aviation and deputy prime minister portfolios.
He became the higher education minister when he was tasked by the PM to solve the crisis in the University of Goroka and Unitech where he did well.
As a civil engineer by training, Polye knows the importance of making objective statements where he qualifies and quantifies his statements with statistical evidence.
While he has all the attributes of a up-and-coming leader, for one reason or another, Polye shot himself on his own foot when he embarked on a miscalculated political strategy that cost him his deputy prime minister’s post.
Polye told the nation that he would support Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
Then all of a sudden in August this year, during the Laiagam show, he said he was ready to become the PM and that statement proved to be costly for not long after that, he was removed as deputy prime minister.
Why did he tell the people of Laiagam that he was ready to be the PM?
Who is going to vote him to be one anyway?
PNG is not like the US where the people vote directly for their leader.
Little did he know the implication of his statement.
This was an insult to his boss.
Abal, on the other hand, is a son of one of the founding fathers of PNG, Sir Tei Abal, PNG’s first opposition leader.
He is humble, wise and a faithful leader.
Many people call him a pastor because he openly speaks about this Christian faith.
He is a God-fearing leader and God, through Sir Michael, has put him in charge,
Polye needs to learn from his mistakes and make necessary adjustments in his political game.
Mamando Pain
Laiagam
Many people have written about the promotion of Sam Abal at the expense of Don Polye.
To me, Polye is a born leader and has the charisma but he lacks calculated political strategies.
I was impressed by his performance when he entered parliament in 2002.
He has since worn many caps including the deputy leader of National Alliance representing the highlands, held the works, transport and civil aviation and deputy prime minister portfolios.
He became the higher education minister when he was tasked by the PM to solve the crisis in the University of Goroka and Unitech where he did well.
As a civil engineer by training, Polye knows the importance of making objective statements where he qualifies and quantifies his statements with statistical evidence.
While he has all the attributes of a up-and-coming leader, for one reason or another, Polye shot himself on his own foot when he embarked on a miscalculated political strategy that cost him his deputy prime minister’s post.
Polye told the nation that he would support Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
Then all of a sudden in August this year, during the Laiagam show, he said he was ready to become the PM and that statement proved to be costly for not long after that, he was removed as deputy prime minister.
Why did he tell the people of Laiagam that he was ready to be the PM?
Who is going to vote him to be one anyway?
PNG is not like the US where the people vote directly for their leader.
Little did he know the implication of his statement.
This was an insult to his boss.
Abal, on the other hand, is a son of one of the founding fathers of PNG, Sir Tei Abal, PNG’s first opposition leader.
He is humble, wise and a faithful leader.
Many people call him a pastor because he openly speaks about this Christian faith.
He is a God-fearing leader and God, through Sir Michael, has put him in charge,
Polye needs to learn from his mistakes and make necessary adjustments in his political game.
Mamando Pain
Laiagam
Ipatas my man for PM
THE verbal attack on Enga Governor Peter Ipatas by Sani Rambi (Dec 31) cannot go unchallenged. The attack is baseless and biased.
Who is Rambi and what has he done? Nothing or, may be, a few things. As for Ipatas, he has done a lot for the people of Enga.
The Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup and free education are some programmes which were pioneered by the governor.
Ipatas has done alot to the people of Enga and PNG as a whole.
He is kind, generous, humble and down-to-earth type of leader, a people’s servant not boss.
He is a true Melanesian leader with the leadership qualities to be a good prime minister who can lead and move this country forward without fear or favour.
Papua Merona
Port Moresby
Who is Rambi and what has he done? Nothing or, may be, a few things. As for Ipatas, he has done a lot for the people of Enga.
The Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup and free education are some programmes which were pioneered by the governor.
Ipatas has done alot to the people of Enga and PNG as a whole.
He is kind, generous, humble and down-to-earth type of leader, a people’s servant not boss.
He is a true Melanesian leader with the leadership qualities to be a good prime minister who can lead and move this country forward without fear or favour.
Papua Merona
Port Moresby
Wapenamanda students in mourning
I WANT air my concern and grievance over the UPNG final year social work student Benny Bero Wia who was killed last Friday at Chuave district in Chimbu.
He was travelling with his tribesmen and women to pay for a bride price ceremony in Chimbu.
The killing came after the Wapenamanda people were on the way to the woman’s village.
There was a road block along the way, by Chimbu people with all armed with guns, bush knifes and axes.
Wia lost his life at the hands of Chimbu on a foreign land and many of the relatives received gun and bush knife wounds.
This is an animalistic act by the people of Chimbu who took a life of a young, upcoming leader.
The people of Wapenamanda were there to invest in their province in terms of pigs, money, cassowary and other food products.
Why the people of Chimbu kill such a young intellectual? We, the students of Wapenamanda from UPNG, are still waiting for the reasons for such a murder.
As president of Wapenamanda Students Association of UPNG, I am appealing to the people and the leaders of Chimbu to explain the unexpected murder immediately to the people of Wapenamanda.
This is a lawless act and I want the public to be informed that such animalistic act will only contribute towards a sick, filthy and unsafe society in Chimbu.
Wapenamanda is a resource-less district and we depend entiredly on integral human resources development.
Kas oh! Opata Degree nyibuali, Kailyamba Kondo Piyumu pupe.
Taskin Kaingi
President
Wapenamanda
Studens Association
He was travelling with his tribesmen and women to pay for a bride price ceremony in Chimbu.
The killing came after the Wapenamanda people were on the way to the woman’s village.
There was a road block along the way, by Chimbu people with all armed with guns, bush knifes and axes.
Wia lost his life at the hands of Chimbu on a foreign land and many of the relatives received gun and bush knife wounds.
This is an animalistic act by the people of Chimbu who took a life of a young, upcoming leader.
The people of Wapenamanda were there to invest in their province in terms of pigs, money, cassowary and other food products.
Why the people of Chimbu kill such a young intellectual? We, the students of Wapenamanda from UPNG, are still waiting for the reasons for such a murder.
As president of Wapenamanda Students Association of UPNG, I am appealing to the people and the leaders of Chimbu to explain the unexpected murder immediately to the people of Wapenamanda.
This is a lawless act and I want the public to be informed that such animalistic act will only contribute towards a sick, filthy and unsafe society in Chimbu.
Wapenamanda is a resource-less district and we depend entiredly on integral human resources development.
Kas oh! Opata Degree nyibuali, Kailyamba Kondo Piyumu pupe.
Taskin Kaingi
President
Wapenamanda
Studens Association
Killing mars Chimbu-Enga relations
I READ with much sympathy Taskin Kaingi’s letter regarding the brutal killing of UPNG student Benny Bero Wia by a group of Chimbus on their way to Chuave from Wapenamanda.
Obviously, this bunch of Chimbus who set up the roadblock picked the wrong target.
This type of barbaric killing must stop not only in Chimbu but the entire Highlands region in order for highlanders to progress in the 21st century.
While I share the grief with the parents and tribesmen of the victim, I urge Kaingi to report to police and appropriate authorities to bring to justice those perpetrators.
Just like Wapenamanda, Chimbu has no natural resources and depends entirely on its human resource, thus, there is no room in our two societies for criminals, hooligans and cannibals.
But, like all societies, there are few people still living in the pre-historic era and continue to ambush and disturb the travelling public.
Kaingi should not seek justice through the media by generalising on Chimbus but provide appropriate information to police to make arrests.
Chimbu and Enga have enjoyed a long history of peaceful relations in politics, academia, business and social life in towns and cities.
This one incident should not derail the total harmony we have shared for generations.
The individuals implicated should be singled out to face the full force of the law.
Such acts should attract the ultimate sentence – death penalty.
Gomla Yal
Dumai Bris, Simbu
Obviously, this bunch of Chimbus who set up the roadblock picked the wrong target.
This type of barbaric killing must stop not only in Chimbu but the entire Highlands region in order for highlanders to progress in the 21st century.
While I share the grief with the parents and tribesmen of the victim, I urge Kaingi to report to police and appropriate authorities to bring to justice those perpetrators.
Just like Wapenamanda, Chimbu has no natural resources and depends entirely on its human resource, thus, there is no room in our two societies for criminals, hooligans and cannibals.
But, like all societies, there are few people still living in the pre-historic era and continue to ambush and disturb the travelling public.
Kaingi should not seek justice through the media by generalising on Chimbus but provide appropriate information to police to make arrests.
Chimbu and Enga have enjoyed a long history of peaceful relations in politics, academia, business and social life in towns and cities.
This one incident should not derail the total harmony we have shared for generations.
The individuals implicated should be singled out to face the full force of the law.
Such acts should attract the ultimate sentence – death penalty.
Gomla Yal
Dumai Bris, Simbu
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Follow due process in LNG dealings
THE PNG public and investors of the giant liquefied natural gas project must be told which minister is charged with the powers to oversee the project on behalf of the Government. We are getting confusing signals at present.
Variously, we have been receiving public statements made on the project by Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma and by Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare.
Last week, Mr Somare signed an understanding with the Japan Bank of International Cooperation to support the development of the multi-billion kina project. Are we to read from this that the State authority over the project is now vested in the Minister for Public Enterprises and not the Minister for Petroleum and Energy?
This question is pertinent because the State is entering a period when all processes and procedures followed and documents initialled must have legal backing. As the Minister for Petroleum and Energy is the custodian of the Oil and Gas Act, it should fall to Mr Duma, not Mr Somare, to undertake on behalf of the State, all legally binding endorsements. If they be matters financial, it should fall within the jurisdiction of the Finance Minister, Patrick Pruaitch.
The Prime Minister can, of course, sign anything he wishes on behalf of his ministers and Government.
Since the Gas Agreement was signed in May 2007, a silent division of labour seems to have crept into the operations of the Government, whether deliberate or not. Mr Somare has been the international face of the State, meeting with international bankers, organising the financing deal with the State’s shares in Oil Search and, last week, signing the deal with the JBIC.
Mr Duma appears to have been tasked with attending to the domestic aspects of the project, mostly dealing with landowners. Whether or not this is true, that is the perception we have.
This project, as indeed with almost all projects, will involve many more ministries, departments and Government agencies. As the LNG involves a major financial undertaking by Government, it is a public enterprise and falls in Mr Somare’s jurisdiction. It also involves the involvement, advice and even approvals of the Minister for Finance, the Justice Minister, the Minister for Environment and Conservation, the Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Implementation and their various departments.
When this arises, there is always a lead agency or ministry. In the case of the LNG project, we feel that responsibility falls to the Ministry and Department of Petroleum and Energy. Mr Duma is the chairman of the Ministerial Gas Committee, after all.
All other ministers and departments would make their contributions, put in their comments and recommendations and then push it over to the lead minister to make the final submission.
When two ministers make pronouncements over one subject, the public reads it to mean there is dissension within cabinet. The project is the biggest ever undertaken in PNG. It is understandable everyone is excited. We can understand if ministers are falling all over each other to get a good word in and be heard on the subject.
So much so that Mr Duma himself even suggested to his electoral subjects that there would be enough money coming from this project to keep all Papua New Guineans on the dole.
So much so that Mr Somare more recently suggested that only a National Alliance government could deliver the LNG project and that it ought to remain in government to ensure that.
That is the kind of excitement and euphoria that a project of this size inspires in even the most unemotional of our leaders.
Here on, however, care, due process and legal protocols must be followed. Contracts and agreements have come unstuck in the past. Today, we have landowner groups who would be all too happy to rush off to court with any mistake, perceived or actual, to put a stop to the project.
The investors must have a clear idea of who is representing the State, that he has not only political but also legal standing, to commit the State. This is very important, indeed crucial, when the project is fraught with so much landowner disagreement, when financing must be secured from a financial world just emerging from crisis, and when the developer’s deadline for a decision is weeks away in December.
There is also the political matter of cohesion, cooperation and respect between coalition partners in Government. Mr Duma is leader of the United Resources Party, the second largest party in Government.
By Professor J.N. Herra
[Note: The writer is a young and vibrant Professor and a genius from the Hebrew University of South Jerusalem. He comes from Aipiap tribe of Sakales village in Wabag, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. He was once been the chief adviser to the United Nations (UN) Secretary General on Poverty Alleviation under Kopi Annan's regime. He is now living in Washington DC.]
Variously, we have been receiving public statements made on the project by Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma and by Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare.
Last week, Mr Somare signed an understanding with the Japan Bank of International Cooperation to support the development of the multi-billion kina project. Are we to read from this that the State authority over the project is now vested in the Minister for Public Enterprises and not the Minister for Petroleum and Energy?
This question is pertinent because the State is entering a period when all processes and procedures followed and documents initialled must have legal backing. As the Minister for Petroleum and Energy is the custodian of the Oil and Gas Act, it should fall to Mr Duma, not Mr Somare, to undertake on behalf of the State, all legally binding endorsements. If they be matters financial, it should fall within the jurisdiction of the Finance Minister, Patrick Pruaitch.
The Prime Minister can, of course, sign anything he wishes on behalf of his ministers and Government.
Since the Gas Agreement was signed in May 2007, a silent division of labour seems to have crept into the operations of the Government, whether deliberate or not. Mr Somare has been the international face of the State, meeting with international bankers, organising the financing deal with the State’s shares in Oil Search and, last week, signing the deal with the JBIC.
Mr Duma appears to have been tasked with attending to the domestic aspects of the project, mostly dealing with landowners. Whether or not this is true, that is the perception we have.
This project, as indeed with almost all projects, will involve many more ministries, departments and Government agencies. As the LNG involves a major financial undertaking by Government, it is a public enterprise and falls in Mr Somare’s jurisdiction. It also involves the involvement, advice and even approvals of the Minister for Finance, the Justice Minister, the Minister for Environment and Conservation, the Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Implementation and their various departments.
When this arises, there is always a lead agency or ministry. In the case of the LNG project, we feel that responsibility falls to the Ministry and Department of Petroleum and Energy. Mr Duma is the chairman of the Ministerial Gas Committee, after all.
All other ministers and departments would make their contributions, put in their comments and recommendations and then push it over to the lead minister to make the final submission.
When two ministers make pronouncements over one subject, the public reads it to mean there is dissension within cabinet. The project is the biggest ever undertaken in PNG. It is understandable everyone is excited. We can understand if ministers are falling all over each other to get a good word in and be heard on the subject.
So much so that Mr Duma himself even suggested to his electoral subjects that there would be enough money coming from this project to keep all Papua New Guineans on the dole.
So much so that Mr Somare more recently suggested that only a National Alliance government could deliver the LNG project and that it ought to remain in government to ensure that.
That is the kind of excitement and euphoria that a project of this size inspires in even the most unemotional of our leaders.
Here on, however, care, due process and legal protocols must be followed. Contracts and agreements have come unstuck in the past. Today, we have landowner groups who would be all too happy to rush off to court with any mistake, perceived or actual, to put a stop to the project.
The investors must have a clear idea of who is representing the State, that he has not only political but also legal standing, to commit the State. This is very important, indeed crucial, when the project is fraught with so much landowner disagreement, when financing must be secured from a financial world just emerging from crisis, and when the developer’s deadline for a decision is weeks away in December.
There is also the political matter of cohesion, cooperation and respect between coalition partners in Government. Mr Duma is leader of the United Resources Party, the second largest party in Government.
By Professor J.N. Herra
[Note: The writer is a young and vibrant Professor and a genius from the Hebrew University of South Jerusalem. He comes from Aipiap tribe of Sakales village in Wabag, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. He was once been the chief adviser to the United Nations (UN) Secretary General on Poverty Alleviation under Kopi Annan's regime. He is now living in Washington DC.]
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